4/23 blog

I thought that the video on how medicine can kill people was very interesting. I feel that people put too much faith in modern medicine without ever thinking that changing their diet is the right way to go. Going to a doctor should be the last step that you take if all else fails. These people are more concerned with making money than the health of others. If everyone was healthy they would not make money so they try and give out medicine for every little thing that somebody can have wrong with them, which the side affects lead to even more dangerous things that other drugs need to be taken to cure that. John DeBlasio

The video we watched in class was very interesting and made me realize that taking medications can have its consequences. Watching that woman in so much pain made think that I shouldn’t  take any pills at all .Doctors are suppose to make you get well, not get you worst so that they get more money in their pockets. The video change my whole perspective in modern medication. –Yissel Ortega 

The film "Death by Medicine" by Gary Null was crazy.  I always knew that our healthcare system was screwed up but I didn't know exactly how.  This film shed new light on the subject for me.  One of the statements that I heard in this film that caught my attention the most was "It is more profitable to fix things than it is to prevent them."  For example, if we all knew what it took to live a healthy lifestyle and take care of our bodies then there would be no need for all the drugs that are designed to mask the problems that our bodies have when we don't do the things that are required to stay healthy.  The film also noted that the medicine we use should be our lifestyle.  Meaning, the foods we eat and the exercise we partake in should act as the medicine for our bodies.  We would be much healthier and happier if we would consider these facts and knew what we need to do in order to live a healthy life.  The knowledge is what is so sacred and coveted and that is what is being hidden from us by the large drug companies... Colin Baesler


I enjoyed the death by medicine documentary. It was interesting to see a completely different view on formal medicine. I was not previously aware of the cases shown in the film. Lauren Tozzi

4/16 blog

The waste-to-energy facility field trip that we went on was outstanding.  I had no idea that Lee County had an operation like that going on.  I feel much better about the garbage that I produce, knowing that 90% of it is being burnt down into energy while the other 10% is now non-toxic and cleanly disposed of.  Five things that I see are good about this system of waste-to-energy are that it drastically reduces the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of.  Second, there is no smell or harmful toxins that are produced by burning the garbage.  Third, the county is getting clean energy to run some of its facilities from the plant.  The fourth thing is that It is very cost-effective for the County to run the plant, it powers itself.  The fifth thing that I see is good about the waste-to-energy plant is that is is producing a source of clean, reusable energy that can be used to power other facilities without burning toxic materials that can harm the environment.  The one thing that I can see as being a negative for the waste-to-energy facility is that it is very expensive to build and the amount of time that it takes to even start the production on one of these facilities can take years of jumping through political hoops and trying to get around all of the nay-sayers.  It is clear that anyone who has done the proper research about these types of facilities would not be opposed to the idea of having one in their area...  Colin Baesler

I had no idea how efficient converting garbage into energy could be. Not only does it dispose of the garbage in a safe non hazardous way, which is the most important thing, but it also produces enough energy to run the entire facility. The positive affects greatly out number the negative ones. If their are any negatives it would be the ash that is left behind, even though it takes up much less space than garbage and does not smell. The biggest problem is getting the system set up as it is much more expensive to build. john deblasio

3/27 report

Class on Tuesday the 27th was interesting.  It certainly made me think twice about the food I eat and where it really comes from.  It has been through more than just being packaged, cooked and then put on my plate.  I guess if I were to sit down and think about what it would take to mass produce that much chicken and beef I would come to the conclusion that the methods would not be pretty.  If you think about how much meat and chicken is consumed in this country then it seems necessary for it to be the way it is.  With that said, the large companies buying and selling the product could certainly do more to take care of their employees and their suppliers.  That is where  the whole situation gets a bit questionable for me.  Also, the bit about the salmonella was really disturbing.  I have relatives that live out in Nebraska and have been farmers for over 50 years.  They have cattle that they keep for themselves and slaughter every year for their own personal consumption.  At their farm, those cattle are kept separate and fed only hay and grass.  So if they wont even feed their own cattle what they feed the rest then there is definitely something wrong with feeding them corn and other things that they would not normally eat in order to make them bigger and fatter faster.  It all seems a little scary when you actually find out what is really going on... Colin Baesler

I enjoyed our class discussion on composting and starting your own garden. I am now considering starting one of my own. I have already seen food inc. a few times, but its still interesting to watch. - Lauren

ECHO

Nacedero

Tropacolum

Katuk

Neem tree

Chinese Spinach

Bitter Gourd

Beetberry

Bamboo

Prickly Pear Cactus

Guazuma

Cramberry Hibiseus

Pomegranate

Field trip answers 3/21/2012

1.  ECHO focuses on low technology solutions because its theories and ideas are designed for low areas and populations that do not have the capabilities of high technology agribusiness methods.  Some of the low technology methods that we saw at ECHO were the SODIS (solar water disinfection), solar pasteurization, treadle pump and the keyhole garden.  All of these technologies can be constructed using the most basic of materials and are very valuable to the populations that use them.  The solar water disinfection and pasteurization technologies use the sun and plastic to create clean water for drinking and cooking.  Farms now days have clean water that is filtered and pumped straight to their house, they don’t have to worry about where it comes from or how it is cleaned.  The treadle pump is less expensive than a motor pump, less tiring than most manual pumps, has a high output capacity and can be made locally.  These are all necessary factors for poor and poverty stricken villages.  In the case of a high technology agribusiness, their water can be pumped at times several miles by a high powered water pump to get to its source, a much different situation than the smaller less powerful, manual powered treadle pump.  The keyhole garden is very common throughout Lesotho and Rwanda.  They have been producing more food for families as well as food for money.  They can be made from simple materials such as bricks, stones, or wood and are very efficient and don’t take up a lot of space.  This is an example of a garden that is used for and provides a specific purpose to its owners.  A typical agribusiness in America is not a personalized operation.  They do not produce food just for themselves and they take up an enormous amount of space.  Most of the low technology methods displayed at ECHO are intended for personal use and are designed to be simple and effective, unlike the typical large, high technology agribusiness in America.

 2.  Some farming methods that were described for third-world urban growers that don’t have any land were centered on the roof top gardens.  Since many of the roof-tops of third-world homes are not very stable, ECHO had to design a way to get plants to grow in a light-weight container.  Some of these containers consisted of a cut out tire with a bit of plastic lining on the bottom.  Instead of filling the tire with soil, which can be very heavy, ECHO filled them with commonly found trash and recyclables such as water bottles, old socks, soda cans and plastic bags.  All that is needed for the plant to grow are the proper nutrients and something for the roots to latch on to.  These light-weight potting containers are perfect for small rooftop gardens.....Colin Baesler

3)Compare to the chemical-based agribusiness operations, ECHO uses all energy efficient methods for their fruits, plants, and animals. For example, they use solar dehydrators that run from the suns energy, used to preserve fruits and vegetables. They have water pumpers and wells that the people have to pump themselves, it saves energy .ECHO has a lot of methods for long-term sustainability like drip irrigation, tuber shredder, block press, etc…

 

4)Good soils do make stronger plants. ECHO develops good soil by using manure to put nutrients back into the soil. They also use worm waste to enrich the soil. Also by covering everything with mulch they prevent the sun to burn the soil and the mulch helps keep all the nutrients from washing away when it rains. Yissel
5- The moringa tree offers a lot of benefits to humans. It provides food for humans because the entire plant is known to provide a high protein content, high vitamin and mineral content, and quality carbohydrate. Other benefits of the moringa tree is the moringa oil used for cooking and for healing. Also, the seeds from the moringa tree are used to purify water. Moringa trees in third world countries are an effective way to address health problems especially malnutrition and childhood blindness. The Moringa has sufficient vitamin A to prevent retinol deficiency which can cause blindness. Malnutrition problems improved within days.


6. The neem tree is beneficial to humans. The neem oil is used in pest control, cosmetics, and medicines. The neeem seed cake is used for soil amendment or added to soil, not only enriches the soil with organic matter but also lowers nitrogen losses by inhibiting nitrification. It also works as a nematicide. The neem leaves are used to treat chickenpox and warts. Also, Neem has anti-bacterial properties that help in fighting against skin infections such as acne, psoriasis, scabies, eczema, etc. Neem extracts also help in treating diabetes, AIDS, cancer, heart disease, herpes, allergies, ulcers, hepatitis and several other diseases. It is called the "village pharmacy" because it is said to "cure" diseases and disorders ranging from bad teeth and bedbugs to ulcers and malaria. The neem tree serves other purposes besides human consumption. Amanda

7. The reason why the duck pen is located above the fish pond is because the ducks waste
feeds the food that the tilapia eat. It is a well balanced relationship between ducks and plants and ducks and tilapia.
8. The synergies between plants and animals is a must if there is going to be a well balanced ecosystem. Plants are the base of all food chains and plants would not be able to grow if it was not for nutritious soil. Nature has many ways of keeping the system in balance. There are synergies between plants and animals all over the place, even in the ocean with the coral reef and its inhabitant fish. John

9) Janice Bermonty gave our class the tour through ECHO; she wholeheartedly believes in sustainable living. Janice thinks in order to really help the farmers receiving aid from ECHO, they should follow the proverb, “Give a man a fish, and you can feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you can feed him for a lifetime.” This means that Janice believes that instead of just giving the people ECHO helps food, they should teach them how to live sustainably by growing and maintaining their own crops/ livestock. ECHO’s mission is to “equip people with resources and skills to reduce hunger and improve the lives of the poor.”

10) One thing you can do to become a more thoughtful consumer of agricultural products is to buy organic foods without unnatural pesticides. You can also buy fruits and vegetables from farmers’ markets where local farmers bring freshly picked produce. Growing your own fruits and vegetables is another great way to be a more thoughtful consumer. Lauren

3/13 report

Last class 03/13 was very informative and the presentations from all the groups were really good.  Our group talked about Chapter 5 Stabilizing climate: Shifting to Renewable Energy. How wind power is going to be the best way to gather electricity and by 2020 we are planning on reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 80%. The video was really good on how to grow your own food. How the family works together and they walked everywhere, only using their car if the place was too far away.-Yissel Ortega 

 Class last week was again interesting to hear about the different group presentations.  However, it was our own presentation that I enjoyed the most.  When I was doing the research for the slide about wind power I learned a lot that I was previously not aware of.  I never knew that wind power was so efficient.  It seems to be the largest push at the moment for green, renewable energy and everybody is getting on board.  The United States is currently the leader in wind power production but Denmark is actually the leader in terms of wind power as a total percentage of the countries power production.  China, however, is about to pass us all as the leader in wind power production with plans to start construction on some very large wind farms.

 Last class our group presented a power point explaining stabilizing climate and shifting to renewable energy. we talked about wind power, solar power, and geothermal energy. we also discussed our goals and what we can do for sustainability. At the end of class we watched a movie. - Amanda DeNoto

Last class we gave our presentation on how we can turn to alternate sources of energy. I felt that the class had a lot of good input towards our discussion. We did not have to beg anybody to join in everyone was pretty interested in the topic.

Week 6 report

I thought that the guest speaker was awesome. He was pretty funny and very informative and definatly knew what he was talking about. You can tell that he loved his job and had a lot of passion towards it. Not only did he teach us about farming but showed that you can follow your dream as he did, a city kid growing up to be a farmer. I also loved the part in the video of the 3 system highway which greatly reduced traffic since i am very impatient on the road.- John

Last class was very interesting where I learned a lot of stuff I didn’t know; that our guest speaker Danny Blank, farm manager at ECHO informed us about. The reasons why edible landscaping is important, because everything is fresh, an excellent source of nutrition, save money, etc... The big three things for stabling and gardening, which were: water/irrigation, mulching, and fertilizing. Also the video that talked about how in Brazil, Curitiba had roads to minimize traffic and city circulation gained time. –Yissel Ortega

Class on 2/27/2012 was very interesting.  The guest speaker that we had gave some very interesting information on edible landscaping.  I have always wanted to know more about how to grow some of my own food in the yard but just haven't had the time to research how.  the information that he gave us will be very valuable to me in trying to create some of my own edible landscaping.  I am very excited for our next field trip to learn even more valuable tips on this topic.  I also found the video to be very interesting.  the way that they were able to free up the flow of traffic while speeding up the flow of public transportation was incredible, and they were able to do it while increasing the amount of pedestrian walk space.  I feel that this is something that many of our larger cities could learn from... Colin Baesler